Thanks for looking! NLA
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Gus Szamboti
- Thread starter krbsailing
- Start date
GLWS
More like $350. Value has definitely exceeded inflation but it still cost a fair amount for the time
Around 1965 we were in the pool hall talking about Gus Szamboti cue costing $100. We were saying you had to be crazy to pay $100 for a cue. Yea, 1970's price probably a bit higher as Gus was selling more cues. I was shooting with my $27 Brunswick Willie Hoppe. I thought that was a lot of money for a cue.
I was in Jersey during from 1979 to 1991 when I escaped.
A basic Gus 59" 2 shafts and ivory ferrules was $360 in 1979.
Mid 80's was $425.00.
That was a lot back then,a Mali or Adam cue was around $100 or so.
A basic Gus 59" 2 shafts and ivory ferrules was $360 in 1979.
Mid 80's was $425.00.
That was a lot back then,a Mali or Adam cue was around $100 or so.
I was offered a Gus Szamboti in trade for my $900 Scruggs once. I turned it down. That was before Szamboti cues were worth a lot. Wish I had a crystal ball back then.
Yeah me too I should have bought one when they were $425.00.
Gus used to come in the room I played at once a month or so but the hoops you had to go through to get one made was something I did not want to do,rather not comment on that.
In 69-70ish, I played out of Annie's, in Enterprise,Al. I wanted a custom cue. Bob, the guy who ran the room, said, "Joe, why don't you let me get you one like Junior has (Junior Goff was a local legend.. came in 2nd at Johnson City, loosing to Wimpy, 11-9)."
Bob was from NYC... I asked him how much a cue like that would cost me... he said $105, which included shipping. I made $1.75/hr.. I told him there was no way I could spend $105 on a pool cue.
True story on how I did NOT become the owner of a brand new George Balabushka cue...
That is a SWEET Szamboti, KRB.. gorgeous!!
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True story though I do not really know the exact details. My father knew Balabushka and did something for him and was offered a FREE cue from George. My dad took a beer instead cause he didn't play pool. He casually mentioned that when we were watching the Color of Money. Blew my mind.
beauty, makes me consider selling my collection for one monster. GREAT cue
I worked every summer from 1969 to 1975 - 10 weeks a summer, 40 hours a week in my high school and college years. I never took home more than $110 a week during that period of time. It was outdoor, heavy manual labor. No way was I going to spend $150 to $300 on a custom cue at that time. I had a $20 cue back then.
I wish that I was a much better pool player back then, maybe I could have won the money and bought a GB or a Gus - spending money won would have been much easier than spending that much money earned on a cue!
I wish that I was a much better pool player back then, maybe I could have won the money and bought a GB or a Gus - spending money won would have been much easier than spending that much money earned on a cue!